The Fight Against Voter Suppression: Voting Rights Advancement Act

The Kentucky League has received a $12,500 grant from the National League to undertake an in-state advocacy and lobbying campaign aimed at promoting the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) in the Senate.  The VRAA has already been passed by the House.

The VRAA restores and modernizes the original protections of the Voting Rights Act, passed in 1965 and periodically re-authorized by bi-partisan congressional votes, most recently in 2006.  In 2013 the Supreme Court in Shelby vs Holder overturned key protections of the Voting Rights Act.  Since then, the integrity of voters and elections have been undermined through suppressive tactics – disproportionately targeting communities of color – such as voter ID laws, illegal purging of voter records, reduced polling locations and gerrymandering. 

The Kentucky League is committed to combating voter suppression in all its forms and will be working with the LWVUS and other key State Leagues to build support for passage of the VRAA.  Activities will include:  digital and radio ads, op eds, letters the editor, a public education forum, post-card campaign, Action Alerts, and encouragement, including seeking personal meetings with Kentucky’s Senators, to support the VRA or, at least, take a neutral stance. 

Considering the COVID-19 epidemic, this advocacy and lobbying campaign will need to rely primarily on digital/video communication.  We are launching the campaign this month and plan to complete it before July.

Before undertaking this project, the LWVKY Board of Directors decided, given all the other important issues in which we’re engaged, that it was necessary to use part of the LWVUS grant to hire a coordinator for the VRAA project.  We are fortunate that Adrian Wallace will be working with us to produce and target effective communication in support of the VRAA.

Mr. Wallace is President and CEO of Bishop and Chase, a consulting firm that focuses on marketing and strategic communications.

Adrian Wallace, Coordinator of the VRAA Project for the LWVKY